Updates:

• By God’s grace, I’m alive and kicking. :)
• Love month passed by so quickly that I didn’t even notice it was Valentines not until my boyfriend came over and gave me roses. And the only ‘gift’ I could give him was a blog post. I am so getting him a special one next year (and yes, kami pa rin nun, God-willing!). 
• Our final thesis proposal defense was a success. Although we have very, very minimal revisions to do, our initial grades, both in the output and the oral presentation was, well, high enough. I’m really, really thankful for those who prayed with me. (And yup, kudos to my thesis partner who did almost all the talking, Chester.) 
• There’s a probability that I will fail Statistics but I’m not giving up yet. I can’t and I have no plans on taking this in the summer because I’ll be pre-occupied by my internship by then. So yes, I have to pass this subject this semester. #focusmore #ajaness
• My best friends (Micah & Jissel) and I are planning on printing a “Keep Calm and Ajaness” shirt. We got the term ‘ajaness’ from the Korean expression, ‘aja aja’ which means ‘fighting’. The three of us are Koreanovela fans. :)
• I guess I got the internship! Summit Media’s just asking for the endorsement letter from my school then I’m all good. GOD IS SO AWESOME! :)
• AND GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN GRACIOUS. :-) But I’m glad I’ve been receiving His extra attention for the past weeks although I know I have His eyes all the time but its just so different right now. So grateful that I am His daughter. ♡
• I have neglected photography and writing for a long time now and it’s sad. Although I’m investing more time in my ministry at church through singing, I miss taking photos and writing cheesy stuff for my own sake. I’ll get back into both of them when I have free time. :)
• Semester’s gonna end in 22 days! I have to focus on my studies more. I’m just praying that God will help me get through junior year. They say its the most crucial year in college. #Godisincontrol
• I’m learning a lot about my Heavenly Father and it’s amazing. I’m praying that He will give me enough courage to share to my friends. #soon #Godwilling
• #trust #serve #believe #forgive ♡

If you are blessed, be a blessing. ☺☺☺

The gift giving done at PGH this morning was very overwhelming. Although we came in late because it was traffic at Roxas Boulevard, I’m glad that we were still able to minister to different patients. ☺

PGH! 

L-R: (top) Ate MM, Janela, Raquel, Alyssa, Karla, Rejane, Jerwin & Digna - (bottom) BJ, James & me! :)

We were assigned at Ward 4 and most of the cases were cancer and goiter. I’m glad that the patients who were confined were very open and friendly. 

Ate MM & I were buddies and we were only able to talk to two patients: Nanay Nancy & Nanay Lani. Their operations are scheduled tonight and I’m praying that God will give the doctors steady hands and clear minds. Nanay Nancy was diagnosed with goiter while Nanay Lani has cancer in her urinary bladder but we claim healing for the both of them, for all of them! May God bless them more. ☺

Some of the youth after the gift giving. :)

Mang Inasal for lunch! Yummy chicken and unlimited rice! :)

Baby Janela. ♥

Seeing the smiles of the patients and knowing that we were able to share God’s love (and His blessings as well) was all worth-it. May God bless all the patients and let them experience His love first hand. Till next year, PGH! To God be the glory! ♥

God gave us desire so we could desire Him. ✞

The retreat was exactly what I needed: a refreshment. With all the school requirements, due articles, family stuff & the problems, my relationship with The Boyfriend, I sure had a hard time balancing my relationship with people and my relationship with the One who I’m supposed to concentrating on, Jesus Christ. ✞ 

I admit, it wasn’t the best retreat I’ve been to but it sure has created a lot of moments I will surely treasure. Nine of us were sent, yes, not six - but nine. We had a great time discovering new things about our friends and I knew from the start that when Beshai, Sep & I were separated into different cabins, God had a plan.. and a purpose, of course. ✞

When we arrived at the place, only a few people were there. The retreat wasn’t a big event, they only expected 8 campers but praise God that when we got there, 21 campers arrived at around 3 in the afternoon, plus 10 from our church (including our pastor). All in all, we were 39 campers. My friends and I thought it was a good thing since the councilors could focus on us individually without having hard time. 

Beshai & I were assigned to one cabin, along with Joally and Sep was assigned to another cabin, along with Alyssa. At first, all of us were struggling since our trio was separated and same went with Joally and Alyssa. We were all not used to being away from each other. 

But God had a purpose and well, it dawned on us when our first night happened. Beshai, Joally & I stayed up late, talking about our own lives, our issues & insecurities, our desires and all the stuff we could think about. We slept at around one in the morning and when we woke up at six, we found out that Alyssa & Sep, also slept late because, they, too, were talking. 

We learned a lot. No, we were reminded of a lot of things because we already know almost all of the discussions. Salvation, Idolatry, Desires, Dating and all of that stuff. It felt great to be reminded of these things because most of us (including me), we forget most of the time. So I’m really thankful that I got to attend this retreat. 

And our favorite part was when we had a lot of free time — as in, 2 pm to 6 pm, we had the pool, the soccer field, the basketball court, the zip line, the confidence course and the snack shop all for us to enjoy. We had five sweet hours of freedom! 

Micah’s infamous tumbling shot. :)

Excuse my big forehead. Hahahaha. 

This was the zip line for kids, there was even a higher zip line that starts from the mountain and goes all the way to the auditorium but I didn’t go for it since all of the campers were trying it and my friends and I got to try it last April. 

Micah, Lemz & I on the kid’s zipline. :)

Toto, planking!! :)

Mon, giving out his praises and thanks to God, during the bonfire. ✞

Meet Shane, one of our cabin’s councilors. I can’t believe she’s only seventeen. She has an amazing voice and she, herself, is amazing. She wanted to be a soldier but God had a better plan for her and she’s currently waiting for God’s will while she’s studying there. ✞

And meet Ate Sophia, my personal councilor there in the retreat. We talked about a lot of things, my issues & my problems, her life in Korea, my career & how I could still glorify God through it. Ate Sophia’s an amazing person because despite the language barrier, she tries to relate to us and she’s really patient. I learned a lot from her and I sure will treasure all the advises she gave me. Saranghae, Ate Sophia! 

Our group, together with the camp’s program people. :)

Funny thing, Pastor Dane was often mistaken to be a camper because he also had an ID. 

I thank God for: 

• my life. 
• the gift of salvation and that I am saved, I am being saved and I will be saved. ✞
• an amazing set of encouraging and Christian friends. 
• Pastor Dane. Our favorite bagets pastor ever. ✞
• my family, despite everything that is happening. 
• my boyfriend, even if we’re in a rough path right now. 
• all the blessing I’ve received in the past week. 

I’m so grateful for all the things that has happened. Thank You, Lord. ✞

VBS 2011: The God of Jonah

Just a quick post on how God used me and my friends to minister to younger kids.

This year’s theme was The God of Jonah and during the 4 days spent for teaching, we concentrated on things like obeying, believing and having faith in Jesus even in the roughest times of our lives. 

As what Jonah 2:2 said, ‘In my distress, I called to the Lord and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for your help and you listened to my cry.’ :) 

Me, Maan, Ate MM & Micah before the afternoon session started. 

A random kid who kept on calling me - ‘Teacher Niks! Picture!’ :)

L: Allen and his cool haircut / R: Prieto sisters in my class. 

My afternoon class - naughtiest (and not to mention, cutest) kids I’ve ever handled! Their ages range from 4-6 years old. :)

The memory game we played in Day 2. :)

Yes, that’s me in the middle of all the commotion happening inside our class. They all look like they’re running. :)

Group photo before having lunch with Tita Cynthia and Tito Joe in Day 2. :)

Good morning, Day 3! My kids lining up like a train. :)

Beshai’s kids ranging from 7-9 years old. :)

Insep’s kids who’s age ranging from 10-13 years old. :)

Us, teachers, were asked to dance with the kids in Day 3. :) 

Everything was worth it. Waking up early, postponing my Hong Kong trip to be able to teach on my birthday, extending my patience and seeing the smiles on their faces. All in all, we handled almost 300 kids from different outreaches. I was really blessed - I praise and thank God for this experience. I will definitely volunteer myself again next year. :)

Easter. 04/24/11. ♥

Some of the choir members after singing. :)

Me with the boy who I can be naturally makulit with. (Hi, Beshai, si Harold o.)

After the sunrise service. :)

SWIMMING! I practically spent Easter’s Day with my friends at Angelo’s house. We swam the whole day and it was awesome. New kids thought I don’t know how to swim and were amazed that I could actually dive. 

I had fun that day. I would love to do it all over again. \:D/

Meanwhile in the basketball court..

Me, in front of Charlon & Tito, who were pretending to practice sparring. 

Micah & I, posing in the middle of the court. 

I still can’t believe Charlon can do this. He can even do splits! That boy is sure damn flexible. 

Wala lang. I was gonna jump but then Micah clicked right away. 

One Saturday Afternoon ♥

Pastor Dane discussing the game’s mechanics. 

The Cute Little Asian Kid. 

Switchfoot tickets. 

Chalk Talk. 

Little boys listening to the Chalk Talk. 

:)